Just Sixteen
general titles
Impotence: A guide for men of all ages
by Philip Kell and Wallace Dinsmore (Royal Society of Medicine Press, 2001) £9.95
review by John Illman
This book outlines the different treatment options for impotence or erectile dysfunction (ED) and addresses the critical issue that discourages many affected men from seeking help — embarrassment.
It is very user-friendly, but only 68 pages long. This may initially make you feel short-changed, but the text is concise, easy to understand and avoids unnecessary medical jargon. Why write a long book when a short one will do? The lay-out, cartoons and graphics blend well with the text.
The authors give reassuring advice about the questions the doctor may ask in a typical consultation and highlight the importance of involving partners in the treatment process. Stressing the importance of regarding ED as a shared problem, they point out that although it is very easy for one partner to blame another, this will almost certainly compound the problem. While joint consultations with both partners are encouraged, they are not essential.
Many men with ED also ask if a consultation will involve an examination. It certainly should do so. The main point of this, as the text points out comprehensively, will be to seek out illnesses such as diabetes that may be causing the impotence.
The authors are not only medical specialists, but also good communicators who write with sympathy and understanding about a common problem.
teen titles
Breaking Up
by Kate Cann (Livewire, 2001) £5.99
Fliss's parents seem to spend all their time shouting at each other and being at home has become a horrible experience. They used to love each other, and Fliss and her little sisters can't understand what's happening. Their parents won't even admit anything is wrong.
Fliss spends every possible minute she can with her boyfriend, Simon. He's everything to her — and he really seems to understand what she's going through. When she gets home from school and the atmosphere is grim, she runs to Simon's house for some love and attention.
Then the worse thing that could happen does: Fliss's parents announce they are splitting up and her dad moves out. He still comes over to take her sisters out but he doesn't seem bothered about seeing her. Her mother's falling apart. And Fliss is trying to study for her GCSEs. She's just grateful that she's got Simon to lean on. Or has she?
Find out how Fliss deals with her parents' and her own relationship both going wrong. And how she picks some bad ways of coping before she finds some good ways. A totally engaging, sad and funny read.
Is He Worth It?
by Sherry Ashworth (Livewire, 2000) £4.99
Boys, don't be put off by the title — this is an excellent story for anyone who's ever had or wanted a relationship. It's about two best friends, Mish and Helen, who nearly fall out when Mish starts going out with someone Helen doesn't like.
Ryan is quite a bit older than 17-year-old Mish and he knows just how to twist her round his finger. One minute he's telling her how much he loves her, buying her presents and asking her to move to London with him. The next minute he's having a go at her in public, telling her she can't have male friends and sulking because she's not yet ready to have sex with him.
Helen doesn't know how to persuade Mish that Ryan's doing her more harm than good and she ends up interfering when she should be leaving well alone. Meanwhile, Helen's classmate Andy has fallen for her — even though she's got a reputation for being wild and he's the nice, studious one…
The best thing about this book is that it doesn't pigeonhole anyone. Not all the boys are bad (even the obnoxious Ryan gets his share of understanding) and the girls make plenty of mistakes too. Whether or not you've ever been out with someone who doesn't treat you fairly, you'll enjoy Is He Worth It? for its realistic and funny approach to teenage relationships.
Postcards from No Man's Land
by Aidan Chambers (Bodley Head, 2001) £10.99
Postcards from No-Man's Land is a brilliant read. It's an unusual story as part of it is set now and part of it in World War II. It's about a boy called Todd Jacobs who goes to Amsterdam to meet Geertui, the woman who saved his grandfather's life during the war.
She tells him the story of the occupation, which even if you don't like war stories much you will find fascinating and really gripping. You get to know the characters really well and so become closely involved in their fight for freedom. Whilst Geertui is telling Todd these stories she also reveals shocking secrets about her relationship with Todd's grandfather.
During Todd's visit to Amsterdam he meets many other interesting people, like Geertui's grandson and his friends, some of whom fancy Todd and vice versa! Amsterdam comes across as a very liberal city where people seem to live their lives however they want and this includes their relationships. This makes Todd question everything about himself, from his own sexuality to his family and how he wants to live.
Just Sixteen
by Jean Ure (Orchard, 1999) £4.99
Sam Virgo really hates his name because it means virgin. When he was 12 and everyone was a virgin it didn't matter but now he's 15 and all his friends say they've 'done it', so he really wishes his parents had changed their name.
Then he starts a new job and meets Priya who he really fancies. He finally plucks up the courage to ask her out and she says yes! They have such a great time together Sam's boasting friends don't matter so much anymore.
But then the unthinkable happens, Priya is pregnant and Sam is forced to take drastic action to help her. The best thing about this book was that it is told from the boy's point of view rather than the girl's. It was great to read about Sam's thoughts on sex and to see how he reacted when Priya became pregnant. You won't be able to put it down because you can't wait to find out what Sam and Priya decide to do…
